Magazine release for use with pistol

ABSTRACT

A magazine release assembly for use with a pistol is disclosed. The magazine release assembly has a pin configured to be positioned through an end of a pistol trigger guard. There is a magazine release arm pivotally mounted to the pin. A magazine catch is also pivotally mounted to the pin. The magazine catch is configured to be positioned between a wall of the pistol handle and a wall of the magazine inserted into the pistol handle cavity in use. The magazine catch has a ledge which engages a notch on the magazine wall when the release arm is pivoted to an engaged position and which pivots away from the notch when the release arm is disengaged. In an embodiment, there are two magazine release arms, making the magazine release assembly ambidextrous.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a non-provisional patent application of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/178,265 filed on May 14, 2009.

BACKGROUND

Pistols known in the art require the user to move the strong hand thumbto depress the button to release the magazine from the pistol, whichincreases time required for reloading the pistol for further use.Accordingly, there is a need for a magazine release that allows the userto keep the strong hand thumb in place and depress the magazine releasewith less movement of the strong hand thumb, therefore decreasing thereloading time for further use.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a pistol having a magazine release assembly isdisclosed. The pistol has a body that includes a handle having a cavitythat defines a longitudinal axis and is configured for accepting amagazine through a first wall thereof. A second wall defines a width ofthe handle. The body also includes a trigger guard having an endpositioned adjacent to the second wall of the handle. A barrel isconfigured to engage a frame that mounts to the body. The barrelreceives shells from the magazine and fires bullets. A trigger releasesa hammer to strike a rear end of a firing pin that strikes a shell inthe barrel to eject a bullet therefrom. The magazine release assemblyhas a pin positioned through the end of the trigger guard along thewidth of the second wall in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Amagazine release arm is pivotally mounted to the pin and is positionedlateral to the trigger guard. A magazine catch is pivotally mounted tothe pin and positioned between the second wall of the handle and amagazine wall. The magazine catch has a ledge which engages a notch onthe magazine wall when the magazine release arm is pivoted to an engagedposition and which pivots away from the notch when the magazine releasearm is in a disengaged position.

In another embodiment, a magazine release assembly is disclosed. Themagazine release assembly has a pin configured to be positioned throughan end of the trigger guard of a pistol. A magazine release arm ispivotally mounted to the pin. A magazine catch is pivotally mounted tothe pin and configured to be positioned between a wall of a pistolhandle and a magazine wall when the magazine is inserted into a cavityof the pistol handle in use. The magazine catch has a ledge whichengages a notch on the magazine wall when the release arm is pivoted toan engaged position and which pivots away from the notch when therelease arm is in a disengaged position.

In another embodiment, a pistol in combination with a magazine having anotch on a wall is disclosed. The pistol has a body that includes ahandle having a cavity that defines a longitudinal axis and isconfigured for accepting the magazine through an opening in a firstwall. The handle has a second wall that defines a width. A trigger guardhaving an end is positioned adjacent to the second wall. There is abarrel configured to engage a frame assembly that mounts to the body andreceives shells from the magazine and fires bullets. A trigger releasesa hammer to strike a rear of a firing pin that strikes a shell in thebarrel to eject the bullet therefrom. A magazine release assembly has apin positioned through the end of the trigger guard along the width ofthe second wall in a direction perpendicular to the axis. A magazinerelease arm is pivotally mounted to the pin and positioned lateral tothe trigger guard. A magazine catch is pivotally mounted to the pin andpositioned between the second wall of the handle and the magazine wall.The magazine catch has a ledge that engages the notch when the releasearm is pivoted to an engaged position and that pivots away from thenotch when the release arm is pivoted to a disengaged position.

These and other details, objects, and advantages of the disclosedmagazine release will become better understood or apparent from thefollowing descriptions, examples, and figures showing embodimentsthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the drawings which are attached hereto and made a part of thisdisclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the magazine releaseassembly.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the magazine release assembly shown inFIG. 1 in the engaged position. The magazine and a section of the pistolare shown in dotted line.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the magazine release assembly shown in FIG. 1in the engaged position. The magazine and a section of the pistol areshown in dotted line.

FIG. 2C is a side view of the magazine release assembly shown in FIG. 1in the disengaged position. The magazine and a section of the pistol areshown in dotted line.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the magazinerelease assembly in the engaged position. The magazine and a section ofthe pistol are shown in dotted line.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the magazine release assembly shown in FIG. 3Ain the engaged position. The magazine and a section of the pistol areshown in dotted line.

FIG. 3C is a side view of the magazine release assembly shown in FIG. 3Ain the disengaged position. The magazine and a section of the pistol areshown in dotted line.

FIG. 4 is side view of the magazine.

FIG. 5A is a side view of the pistol having the magazine releaseassembly shown in FIG. 1 in the engaged position.

FIG. 5B is a side view of the pistol having the magazine releaseassembly shown in FIG. 1 in the disengaged position.

FIG. 6 is a side cutaway view of the pistol shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the pistol shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the pistol shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the pistol shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the pistol having themagazine release assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the slide.

FIG. 12A is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the magazinerelease assembly.

FIG. 12B is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the magazinerelease assembly.

FIG. 13 is a side view of an embodiment of the pistol having anaccessory rail.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the pistol.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A magazine release assembly 100 for use with a pistol 300 is disclosed.In examples, the pistol 300 is large-frame, medium-frame, compact orsub-compact. Embodiments of the pistol are shown in FIGS. 5, 7-9, and13. In other embodiments the magazine release assembly 100 is configuredfor use on any gun having a magazine 200 inserted through a handlecavity 336. The magazine release assembly 100 includes a pin 110, amagazine release arm 120, and a magazine catch 130. The magazine releaseassembly 100 may be manufactured from a polymer such as high strengthpolymer, metal, stainless steel, or aluminum. The magazine releaseassembly 100 is configured for use with a magazine 200 such as the oneshown in FIG. 4. In an embodiment, the magazine 200 has a cavity 220that is configured to house up to six shells 400, although the magazinecavity 220 may be configured to hold more than six shells 400. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 4, the magazine 200 has an extended bottom 240to facilitate a better grip. However, in an other embodiment, themagazine 200 has a substantially flat bottom. See FIG. 10. The magazine200 can be manufactured from polymer or the like. Optionally, themagazine 200 is manufactured from a translucent polymer.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 12 the magazine release assembly 100includes a pin 110 configured to be positioned through an end of apistol trigger guard 320. In use, the pin 110 is positioned along thewidth 335 of the handle second wall 334 in a direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis 337. A magazine release arm 120 is pivotallymounted to the pin 110. The magazine release arm 120 is configured to bepositioned lateral to the trigger guard 320 of the pistol when themagazine release assembly 100 is assembled on a pistol 300. Optionally,two magazine release arms 120 are pivotally mounted to the pin 110 tomake the magazine release assembly 100 ambidextrous.

A magazine catch 130 is pivotally mounted to the pin 110. See FIGS. 1,12. The magazine catch 130 is configured to be positioned between thesecond wall 334 of the pistol handle 330 and a wall 233 of the magazine200 inserted into the cavity 336 of the pistol handle 330 in use, asshown in FIGS. 5-8. The magazine 200 has a notch 231 on wall 233, asshown in FIG. 4. The magazine catch 130 has a ledge 131 which isconfigured to engage the notch 231 when the magazine 200 is insertedinto the handle cavity 336. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, when themagazine release arm 120 is pivoted to an engaged position, the ledge131 is engaged with the notch 231 to secure the magazine 200 in thehandle cavity 336. The ledge 131 pivots away from the notch 231 torelease the magazine 200 from the handle cavity 336 when the magazinerelease arm 120 is pivoted to a disengaged position, as shown in FIGS.2C and 3C.

A first embodiment of the magazine release assembly 100 is shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 12A. The magazine catch 130 includes a spring 132 thatcontacts the second wall 334 of the handle 330 when the magazine releaseassembly 100 is assembled on the pistol 300. In the FIGS., the spring132 is conical, but spring 132 may be any shape or configuration. Inuse, the spring 132 is in a partially compressed state when the magazinerelease arm 120 is pivoted to the engaged position (FIGS. 2B, 5A) and isfurther compressed when the magazine release arm 120 is pivoted to thedisengaged position (FIGS. 2C, 5B). When the magazine release arm 120 ispivoted to the disengaged position, the magazine catch 130 pivots awayfrom the magazine 200 and the ledge 131 disengages from the notch 231,thereby releasing the magazine 200 from the handle cavity 336.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 12B, the magazine catch 130includes a member 134 that is bent to form a springable clip havingfirst and second regions 135, 136 that substantially align. Ledge 131 ison an end of the first region 135. Second region 136 contacts the secondwall 334 of the handle 330 when the magazine release assembly 100 isassembled on the pistol 300. In an example, magazine catch 130 is metal,such as sheet metal. In use, the second region 136 of the magazine catch130 is in a partially compressed state when the magazine release arm 120is pivoted to the engaged position (FIG. 3B) and is further compressedwhen the magazine release arm 120 is pivoted to the disengaged position(FIG. 3C). When the magazine release arm 120 is pivoted to thedisengaged position, the magazine catch 130 pivots away from themagazine 200 and the ledge 131 disengages from the notch 231, therebyreleasing the magazine 200 from the handle cavity 336.

Optionally, magazine catch 130 includes a protrusion 138 that mates witha pocket on the magazine release arm 120 as shown in FIGS. 2A, 3A. In anembodiment, the protrusion 138 is the negative shape of the pocket.Protrusion 138 provides a grip that helps to prevent slippage of themagazine catch 130 on the pin 110.

An exploded view of the pistol 300 in combination with the magazinerelease assembly 100 and magazine 200 is shown in FIG. 10. The variouscomponents of the pistol are assembled using a variety of fasteners 301and function through a variety of springs 341 as shown generally in theFIGS., and particularly in FIGS. 10 and 11. The pistol 300 includes abody 310, a barrel 350, and a trigger 325. The body 310 includes ahandle 330 and a trigger guard 320. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 14, thehandle 330 has first and second walls 331, 334. The handle 330 has acavity 336 that defines a longitudinal axis 337. The cavity 336 isconfigured for accepting a magazine 200 through an opening 333 in thefirst wall 331 of the handle 330. The second wall 334 defines a width335 of the handle 330. Optionally, the handle 330 includes a grip 338.The body 310 also includes a trigger guard 320 that has an end 322positioned adjacent to the second wall 334 of the handle 330.

A slide 340 such as those shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is detachablyconnected to the body 310 for sliding along the upper portion 312 of thebody 310 under a resistance provided by a spring 341, such as a springassembly. The extractor 342 is secured to the slide 340 by a roll pin343. The slide 340 moves rearward and trips the extractor 342 to pull ashell 400 out of the barrel 350 through the ejection port 344 afterfiring. Optionally, the slide 340 includes a removable rear sight suchas the sight 370 shown in FIG. 11. Optionally, the sight 370 is atritium sight. Optionally, the body 310 includes an accessory rail 380such as the one shown in FIG. 13 for mounting accessory items such aslaser sights, lighting devices, and the like to the body 310.

The pistol 300 also includes a threaded barrel 350 configured to engagea frame 360 that mounts to the body 310. The barrel 350 receives shells400 from the magazine 200 and fires bullets. Optionally, the barrel 350includes an extended accessory barrel 352 as shown in FIG. 5A forconnecting accessory items to the barrel 350.

The trigger 325 on the pistol 300 releases a hammer 326 to strike therear of a firing pin 328 that strikes a shell 400 in the barrel 350 toeject the bullet therefrom. The hammer spring 327 provides the tensionto the hammer 326. In an embodiment, the firing pin 328 has a solidsurface (FIG. 10). In another embodiment, the firing pin 328 is fluted(FIG. 11). The flutes 329 on the firing pin 328 help to prevent thepistol 300 from hydra-locking by providing an outlet through whichinternal fluids drain away from the firing pin 328.

While the foregoing has been set forth in considerable detail, it is tobe understood that the drawings, detailed embodiments, and examples arepresented for elucidation and not limitation. Design variations,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangements of parts, may bemade but are within the principles of the invention. Those skilled inthe art will realize that such changes or modifications of the inventionor combinations of elements, variations, equivalents, or improvementstherein are still within the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. A pistol, comprising: a. a body including (i) a handle having acavity that defines a longitudinal axis and configured for accepting amagazine through a first wall thereof and a second wall defining a widthand (ii) a trigger guard having an end positioned adjacent to the secondwall; b. a barrel configured to engage a frame assembly that mounts tothe body and to receive shells from the magazine and fire bullets; c. atrigger that releases a hammer to strike a rear of a firing pin thatstrikes a shell in the barrel to eject the bullet therefrom; and d. amagazine release assembly, comprising: i. a pin positioned through theend of the trigger guard along the width of the second wall in adirection perpendicular to the axis; ii a magazine release arm pivotallymounted to the pin and positioned lateral to the trigger guard; and iii.a magazine catch pivotally mounted to the pin and positioned between thesecond wall of the handle and a magazine wall and having a ledge whichengages a notch on the magazine wall when the release arm is pivoted toan engaged position and which pivots away from the notch when therelease arm is in a disengaged position.
 2. The pistol of claim 1,wherein the pistol is sub-compact.
 3. The pistol of claim 1, furthercomprising a second magazine release arm.
 4. The pistol of claim 1,wherein the magazine release assembly is ambidextrous.
 5. The pistol ofclaim 1, the magazine catch further comprising a spring positioned tocontact the second wall of the handle when the magazine is substantiallyinserted into the cavity.
 6. The pistol of claim 5, wherein the springis conical.
 7. The pistol of claim 1, the magazine catch furthercomprising a springable clip member having first and second regions thatsubstantially align, wherein the second region contacts the second wallof the handle when the magazine is substantially inserted into thecavity.
 8. The pistol of claim 1, the magazine catch further comprisinga protrusion that mates with a pocket on the release arm.
 9. The pistolof claim 8, wherein the protrusion is a negative shape of the pocket.10. A magazine release assembly, comprising: a. a pin configured to bepositioned through an end of a pistol trigger guard; b. a magazinerelease arm pivotally mounted to the pin; and c. a magazine catchpivotally mounted to the pin and configured to be positioned between awall of a pistol handle and a wall of a magazine inserted into a cavityof the pistol handle in use and having a ledge which engages a notch onthe magazine wall when the release arm is pivoted to an engaged positionand which pivots away from the notch when the release arm is in adisengaged position.
 11. The magazine release assembly of claim 10,further comprising a second magazine release arm.
 12. The magazinerelease assembly of claim 10, the magazine catch further comprising aspring positioned to contact the handle wall when the magazine issubstantially inserted into the cavity.
 13. The magazine releaseassembly of claim 10, the magazine catch further comprising a springableclip member having first and second regions that substantially align,wherein second region contacts the handle wall when the magazine issubstantially inserted into the cavity.
 14. The magazine releaseassembly of claim 10, the magazine catch further comprising a protrusionthat mates with a pocket on the release arm.
 15. A pistol in combinationwith a magazine having a notch on a wall, comprising: a. a bodyincluding (i) a handle having a cavity that defines a longitudinal axisand that is configured for accepting the magazine through an opening ina first wall and further having a second wall defining a width and (ii)a trigger guard having an end positioned adjacent to the second wall; b.a barrel configured to engage a frame assembly that mounts to the bodyand to receive shells from the magazine and fire bullets; c. a triggerthat releases a hammer to strike a rear of a firing pin that strikes ashell in the barrel to eject the bullet therefrom; and d. a magazinerelease assembly, comprising: i. a pin positioned through the end of thetrigger guard along the width of the second wall in a directionperpendicular to the axis; ii. a magazine release arm pivotally mountedto the pin and positioned lateral to the trigger guard; and iii. amagazine catch pivotally mounted to the pin and positioned between thesecond wall of the handle and the magazine wall and having a ledge thatengages the notch when the release arm is pivoted to an engaged positionand that pivots away from the notch when the release arm is pivoted to adisengaged position.
 16. The pistol of claim 15 further comprising aremovable rear sight mounted on the frame.
 17. The pistol of claim 15further comprising an extended accessory barrel connected to an end ofthe barrel.
 18. The pistol of claim 15 wherein the firing pin is fluted.19. The pistol of claim 15, the magazine further comprising an extendedbottom configured to facilitate grip of the pistol.
 20. The pistol ofclaim 15, further comprising an accessory rail mounted on the body.